Plant story

Erica verticillata

Erica verticillata was last seen in the wild in 1908 and was, until 1984 thought to be extinct. Through the efforts of Mr Anthony Hitchcock, the MSB and other horticulturalists at Kirstenbosch Gardens this species has been found and re-established at Kenilworth Race Course.

This attractive shrub grows to 1.5m and has a whorl of pale to dark pink tubular flowers during the summer months. It is a narrow endemic and its range was historically from Black River in Cape Town to Zeekoeivlei on the False Bay coast. Its natural habitat is in Sand Fynbos, and the only remaining Sand Fynbos habitat left in virgin condition is at the Kenilworth Race Course.

Five plants were originally located in botanical gardens (see full story on right) and research at the MSB has established that all five are true forms of E. verticillata.

Seed was collected from the Pretoria and Kirstenbosch forms and banked to prevent this species being lost again. Seed collected for the seed bank has been sown and grown in the Kirstenbosch Nursery. Plants were grown on for one year and then planted out at Kenilworth in the cold wet rains of 2005, 2006 and 2007. Of the first 2005 planting only 50% survived; however, not all was lost as much was learnt about where to place the plants. Only 10% of the 2006 plantings were lost and in March of 2007, five Erica turgida plants were found flowering at the site of the first planting! There was much excitement about this and questions as to how they were overlooked. The answers are still in the wind but it also appears that pollen was too, as these plants are producing seed in the wild!

 

Story by Carly Cowell, South African National Biodiversity Institute